Monday, 26 January 2009

Wherever we are ranked, there is always someone better. Or if you are clearly best in the world, the future will always bring someone better. Did you hear the one about the M45 runner who googled interstate race results to see what times other M45s were running? He found an awesome 10k time which smashed all records and was, to use an over-used word, unbelievable. He would have no chance racing this awesome athlete. And yes, he was a genuine M45 and yes, the race distance was a genuine 10k. But .... later he learnt it was a wheelchair athlete.

Big goose, little pond.
Sometimes we need a little perspective.
For Australia Day I have looked up some Australian records. In my age group the national record for 10k on the track is 34.23. Um. Not bad. This is 5 minutes faster than I can imagine running as an M60. The same Perth gentleman also holds the M65 and M70 records, in times I won't ever reach.

No wheelchairs in this list! The future will bring someone better, but it's hard to believe, and it's not going to be you or me.

Transformation: we can change from what we are and become fleet of foot pain free happy and healthy runners. But we won't change into John Gilmour. To celebrate Australia Day, let's just enjoy the fact that we share this wonderful country with such wonderful runners.

¡ıo ıo ıo ¡ǝıssnɐ ǝıssnɐ ǝıssnɐ

Plans (100k)
Last week I easily achieved 95k, even with Tuesday off. So my plan for week 5 of 2009:Monday 26th: A long run in the morningTuesday 27th: An hour's stretching in the morning, a tempo run at Stromlo at 6pmWednesday 28th: A short and easy run from home.Thursday 29nd: Race ACTMA track, probably attempt sub 20:00 for 5kFriday 30th: A recovery run from homeSaturday 31st: Stromlo intervals 9:00 am, 3x1km, and a long afternoon run.Sunday 1 Feb: Stromlo long run, and another run in the afternoon if I need it to total 100km for the week.

Note: on Tuesday I see there is at 8:00pm an ACT 3000m Championships (under 18), and at 8:15pm the ACT 5000m Championships (Open and under 20). I don’t know whether non-championship people can run; I had pencilled in the 3000m but not knowing if I can run it, I will give it a miss.